Breanna Stewart had said Wednesday morning that avoiding a trip to Phoenix for Game 3 was a \u201cmain priority\u201d for the New York Liberty.<\/p>\n
But that\u2019s where they will head to try to stave off a disastrous first-round playoff exit that would dash their championship repeat hopes. To get past the Mercury on Friday, Stewart will need to look closer to herself than she did in Wednesday\u2019s loss at Barclays Center.<\/p>\n
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Stewart said she sprained her MCL in overtime of the series opener on Sunday. She sat out of Tuesday\u2019s practice but was determined to play against the Mercury in Game 2 and started the game.<\/p>\n
But Stewart was a shell of her typical self. The Liberty\u2019s plans went awry, in large part because of Stewart\u2019s obvious limitations.<\/p>\n
She played only 12 first-half minutes and didn\u2019t check in during the fourth quarter, as the game had long seemed decided in Phoenix\u2019s favor. She posted a career playoff-low six points as the Mercury cruised to an 86-60 win.<\/p>\n
\u201cStewie\u2019s tough, she did what she could,\u201d Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said. \u201cI suppose the physicality, that was hard for her.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Stewart has been New York\u2019s pulse all season. The Liberty had their best net rating with Stewart on the court (plus-10.4 points per 100 possessions); Stewart also had the biggest on-off swing, as New York was 11.5 points per 100 possessions worse without her on the court and 5-8 without her in the lineup.<\/p>\n
Even though she was on the court Wednesday, Stewart wasn\u2019t much of a factor. Her touch around the rim was off and she struggled on the move. On multiple possessions, Stewart either lost her balance and had to throw the ball away or was unable to get past a defender. Without Stewart leading the way, the Liberty\u2019s offense stagnated. Every pass became a little more crowded, every jump shot a little bit more contested without Stewart\u2019s gravity drawing away the defense.<\/p>\n
Her limitations also showed on defense. During the Mercury\u2019s game-breaking 15-0 second-quarter run, they targeted Stewart repeatedly on middle pick-and-rolls, forcing the injured New York star to navigate screens at the top of the key \u2014 a rare sight considering that Stewart is among the league\u2019s best defenders when healthy. But \u201cwhen healthy\u201d has been a caveat applied to many players for the entirety of the Liberty season.<\/p>\n
Phoenix scored three times in a row on that action with Satou Sabally as the ballhandler, extending its lead to 11 before Brondello gave in and took Stewart out of the game. Things didn\u2019t improve with Emma Meesseman in Stewart\u2019s place, as the midseason signee also struggled in ball screen coverages. By halftime, New York was down 14, and Stewart\u2019s plus-minus was minus-14, the worst among all players.<\/p>\n
The 14-point deficit was the Liberty\u2019s largest in a home game this season, and they ended the contest with their lowest shooting percentage (30.2 percent) of the year.<\/p>\n
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Despite the Liberty\u2019s depth of talent up and down the roster, raising their floor and setting the tone consistently falls upon Stewart. Her teammates, particularly perennial All-Stars Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu, should have been able to pick up the slack, but the pair combined for 16 points on 6-of-22 shooting. Ionescu uncharacteristically missed four straight free throws.<\/p>\n
The one upside was that Stewart only played 20 minutes in the rout. With two days before the final game of the series, any extra rest will be helpful for her and the rest of the Liberty roster. Their season depends on it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all know Stewie\u2019s a champion,\u201d Brondello said, \u201cand she\u2019s going to respond in the right way.\u201d<\/p>\n